Sectional drawn sheet metal body for air-heating furnaces



Feb. 12, 1952 c, HARR|$ SECTIONAL DRAWN SHEET METAL BODY FOR AIR-HEATING FURNACES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1946 Feb. 12, 1952 c, HARRIS SECTIONAL DRAWN SHEET METAL BODY FOR AIR-HEATING FURNACES Filed Sept. 11, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fTLUETLfOT Cleo Feb. 12, 1952 c, HARRIS 2,585,650

SECTIONAL DRAWN SHEET METAL BODY FOR AIR-HEATING FURNACES Filed Sept. 11, 1946 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fraz/enl af" [60 H Patented Feb. 12, 1952 SECTIONAL DRAWN SHEET METAL BODY FOR AIR-HEATING FURNACES Cleo Harris, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, .Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,242

This invention relates to furnaces and is particularly concerned with the form and construction of furnace bodies which may be advantageously employed in hot air furnaces.

An object and accomplishment of the invention is to improve the construction of furnace bodies of the above-named class with respect to efficiency of operation and economy in their manufacture; and to this end, a feature of the invention is to provide a furnace body comprising two oppositely arranged sheet metal stampings of hollow, approximately semi-cylindrical shape and defining front and back body sections united along a common margin, the feed-door pouch and ash-pit pouch including the seats for the feed and ash doors being drawn as integral parts of the front section, and the. smoke collar being drawn integral with the back section.

Heretofore, round steel furnace bodies of this type have been made in six or more separate sections comprising (1) a cylindrical body, (2) a round top or dome, (3) a bottom plate, (4) a feed pouch, (5) an ash-pit pouch, and (6) a smoke connecting collar. These parts are made in separate units and, after being assembled to the proper relative locations on special, complicated and expensive fixtures, they are welded together both inside and outside to provide smoke-tight joints. An object of the two-piece construction of the present invention is to eliminate all unnecessary parts and welding, thereby advantageously facilitating a more economical mass production manufacture of the furnace body.

The present invention is directed toward simplification and standardization of parts and tools, the front and back sections being adaptable to be used for a variety of furnace sizes by drawing one of the two sections deeper and standard bar grate sections can be added to suit any size whereby the fuel pit will become an oval area. By increasing the length of the grate, instead of the diameter, I am able to maintain a consistent minimum width on all sizes of furnaces which is in accordance with the modern trend of designing compact packaged units of a rectangular or oval contour, and also utilize the same grate sections for all sizes. This is a very important factor affecting very favorably the cost and servicing of the furnace bodies contemplated herein.

A further object of the invention is to provide afurnace. body of the above character wherein the feed and ash pouches are separated thereby defining an opening which, together with the 11 Claims. (01. 126-99) I smoothness of the drawn curves of the body,

facilitates the circulation of air and increases the efficiency of the heat transfer, it being an established fact that the distribution of the heat from an elongated fuel area is more efficient than from a round area since the heat source is closer to the walls of the body. The oval area of the grate facilitates also the so-called alternate firing of coal, that is, placing the green coal in front of live coal, for more efficient burnmg.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a furnace body characterized by a novel combination of parts arranged and adapted to provide a compact assembly which will successfully combine the factors of structural simpilicity, efficiency and durability thereby to increase its versatility in practical use, and yet be economical to manufacture.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention disclosed herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction and operation are understood from the within description. i

It is preferred to accomplish the various objects of this invention and to practice the same in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accom panying drawings which form a part of this speciflcation wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a furnace body embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the furnace body depicted in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the furnace body depicted in Fig. 1 and taken substantially on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the furnace body taken substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a modified form of furnace body embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the furnace body depicted in Fig. 5 and taken substantially on the plane of line fi6 of Fig. 5.

The drawings are to be understood as being more or less of a schematic character for the purpose of disclosing typical or preferred forms of the improvements contemplated herein, and in these drawings like reference characters identify the same parts in the several views.

A furnace casing, which may be advantageouscolored in keeping with the usual present day 7 character of ornamentation. V i

Suffice it to say, since the invention is not particularly concerned with the specific structure of the furnace casing generaly, it will not be fur-' ther described in detail. It is to be understood that the detail of the construction of the furnace casing and its associated parts in general may be modified to suit particular conditions and I do not wish to be'limited to the precise details of construction thereof as set forth herein.

Having thus described the general environment surrounding the'furnace body with which the present invention is particularly concerned, the specific construction and function of parts of said furnace body will now be described in detail. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the furnace body assembly is designated in its entirety by the numeral and comprises generally, two opposite ly arranged sheet metal stampings of hollow approximately semi-cylindrical shape and constituting a front body section designated in its entirety by the numeral 31, and a back body section designated in its entirety by the numeral 32. The front body section 3| is provided with a domed top region as at 33 and the back body section 32 is provided with a suitable transversely curved top as at 34. Each of said sections are united along a common margin by welding or by any other suitable approved practice and,

pouches are disposed in a common vertical plane of coaction with the outer furnace casing 20, whereby a portion of the air being heated within the-furnace casing 20 is adapted to circulate between and around the pouches thereby facilitating an improved heat transfer because of the increased area of contact of the flowing air within the outer casing with the furnace body proper.

The pouches 42 and 43 are spaced apart verticaly, as shown in Fig. 3, thus defining a chamber 44 within the furnace outer casing 20, whereby circulation of air between said pouches and the exterior of the fire-pot is effected. This construction and arrangement facilitates maximum efliciency in the transfer of heat from the furnace body to the circulating air which after circulating within the outer casing 20 and conwhen so united, the sections define an ash-pit 36, an intermediate fire-pot 31 and a combustion chamber 38, all in superposed relationship. The specific construction and the cooperating functions of these parts will be hereinafter further described in detail.

Referring to Fig. 3, the back body section32is a stamping formed by suitable dies (not shown) employed by any approved practice todefine a hollow approximately semi-cylindrical shape having a flanged smoke outlet 39 integrally formed therewith in the upper portion of said back section 32. The flanged smokeoutlet 39 .is provided with a rolled outer peripheral surface 40 adapted to be secured to a matching flange (not shown) which is connected to a conventional smoke stack thereby to carry out smoke from the combustion chamber 38 to the, chimney or smoke stack (not shown).

The front body section 3| is a stamping formed by suitable dies (not shown)v employed by any approved practice to define a hollow approximately semi-cylindrical shape having an apertured fuel feed-door pouch 42 formed integrally with the upper region of said front section and protruding radially outwardly beyond the cylindrical portion of said front section and an apertured ash-door pouch 43 also formed integrally with the front section, but at the lower portion thereof, said ash pouch protruding radially outwardly beyond the cylindrical portion of said front section. The radially outer portions of said tacting the furnace body, is removed from the casing 20 in a usual and conventional manner and then circulated through the various rooms or places which are desired to be heated.

Each of the pouches are provided with suitable integral flanged formations 45 and 46 surrounding, respectively, the fuel feed aperture and the ash aperture and to which suitable doors (not shown) may be hingedly secured and adapted and arranged so that the doors will be in over-lapping engagement with said flange formations when the doors are in their normally closed positions to provide an efficient and a relatively tight smoke and air seal.

Disposed within the front and back body sections, to define the fire-pot 31, is a lining 41 of suitable firebrick or the like, supported by a flange 48 which is suitably secured to and carried by the side walls of the furnace body proper.

The lower portion of the pouch 42, as shown in Fig. 3 at 49 is frusto-conical in shape to rovide a chute-like formation to facilitate the conveyi ance of the fuel into the fire-pot 31 when it is shovelled into the furnace body through the aperture in the pouch 42.

Suitably secured to and forming a continuation of said chute as at 49, is a second chute 50 which is substantially of frusto-conical shape and adapted to provide a smooth continuous chute for the entering of fuel into the fire-pot.

Referring to Fig. 3, it is notable that the construction and arrangement of the furnace body provides advantages of being able to make the furnace body in different sizes to suit particular conditions with a minimum amount of alteration in the process of manufacture. The width and height of the furnace body remain constant for all sizes and the only change required for the different sizes is the lengthening of the furnace from the front to the back. This may be advantageously accomplished by drawing the rear half from the same dies to diiferent depths as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 3. In any event, the front half of the furnace body remains the same in every case. Moreover, the present construction and arrangement of parts provides advantages of a constant minimum width for all sizes of furnaces which is in accordance with the modern trend of designing compact packaged units of rectangular or oval contour, and simplifies the manufacturing of the furnace bodies by standardization of parts for all sizes.

The front and back sections are each provided with a suitable matching flange as at 5| and 52,

respectively, and are welded together at this point to form the assembled furnace body. Therefore, the ease in assembly in combination withthe simple operations required in the formation' o'f 5. the sections, provides afurnace body which will successfully combine the factors of structural.

simplicity, efficiency and durability, and the Baseofadjustment to provide different sizes increasesthe furnace bodys versatility in practical useaand yet the furnace body, because of these featuresis economical to manufacture.

Preferably, feet as at. 53 and :4 are suitably secured to the furnace body by any approved".

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, wherein a. modiflcation of the furnace body hereinbeforedescribd isshown and is designated in its entirety by the numeral 60 and comprises generally, two oppositely arranged sheet, metal stampings-of hollow approximately semiecylindrical shape and 00h: stitutinga front. body section designated in its entirety by the numeral 62, and a back: body section of substantially the same constructionas hereinbefore described. In some cases, it ha been, found advantageous to provide thefront body section 62. with a domed top region as: at 613 with the domed top being provided with an irre ularformation as at 6.4 defining a fuel feed-doo pouch 6.5 formed integrally with th upper re -ion of said front section and protruding radially out:- wardly beyond the cylindricalportion,ofsaid-fren section. .At. thelower portions ofrthefront sec tion, there is provided an ash pouch 6.5 pro rudin radially outwardlyb ondthe cyl nd ical: portion. of said front; section.v The radially outer v portions of said pouches are disposed in arommon vertical plane of ccaction with the .out

furnace casing 25, wher by a portion of the. i

being heated. within the furnace. casing is adapted to circulate. between. and aro ndjth pouches there y facilitatin an. mprov d hea transfer because of the ncreased area of nac of he flowin air within the. outer casing with the furnace. body prop r..

The pouches 65 and 66. are sp ced apart: verically as shown in. thus definin -acham: he 6. w thin th furnace outer casin 29,. whereby contact with th ircu ation. of; :air between sai p uc es and e exterior of: the fire-pot is eifectc z Disposed within. the fron and back sections to d fi a fi -pot foals a lin ngaiifl; ci cuit-- ble firebri ls or the like.

Disposed within the front body section is a fuel feed chute 10. of frusto-..conical shape "and slo in nwardly and downward y from .thc..1ew region of the feed-door aperture to the semi.-

cylindrical region of. the .frontsection to facilitate the conveyance of the fuel into the firepot 68 when it is shovelled into the furnace-body through the aperture H in the pouch 65..

From the foregoing. description, it can be -seen that I have provided a furnace body which efficientl-yfulfills the objects hereinbefore set forth :5. Economical to manufacture and readily adaptableto mass production manufacture.

While I have, illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without; departing from the .spiritof the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

:1. A heater or furnace body comprising a plurality .of oppositely arranged sheet metal stampings of hollow approximately semi-cylindrical shape and constituting front and back body sections, both sections having domed top regions, and. said sections being united along a common. m rgin and to ether defining a lower .ash pi an intermediate fire-pot. and a. combustion chamber; .a flanged smoke Outlet. formed integrally-in the upper portion of said back section: ensapertured feed door pouch. integral fil QED??? 'fi iq Qi said ron BQfiQ J: a d P170.-

portion of said front section; and anapfirtured ash-door pouch integral with the lower region I of said front, section and protruding radially out,-

vvard beyond. the cylindrical portion of said front sect-ion; the, radially outer portions of said pouches being in a common vertical plane for coaction with an outer casing spaced from the remaining portion of the. furnace body, whereby abortion of the air b n heated within th easins is adapt d. to. culate twe n and around said pouches;

2- A heater r furnace body ompr i g a plurality f; pposi ely arranged. sheet meta stamp ss o h ll w approximately semi-cylindrical shape and constituting front andback body sections, both sections having domed top. regions,

andsa dsections being united a one a comm n marrinandtoeether defin nga lower ash-pit, an intermediate fire-pot, and a domed com us hamber; a flan ed smoke o tlet form i teerally inthc upper domed. portion of said back section above,- said. fire-p a flanged. p u d feed door pouch integral with the upper region of said front section and protruding radially out;- ward beyond the cylindrical portion of said front se tion; and anansed apertur d a h-do pouch integral with the lower region of said front section and protruding radially outward beyond, the cylindrical portion of said front section; the radially outer portionsof said pouchesbeingin a. common vertical plane for coaction with an outercasing spaced from the remaining portion of the furnace body, whereby a portion of the air being heated within the casing is adaptedv to circulate between and around said pouches.

3. A heater or furnace body adapted forarrangement within an outer casing, comprising a "plurality of oppositely arranged sheet metal stampings of hollow approximately semi-cylindrical shape and constituting front and back body sections, both sections having domed top regions, and said sections being arranged in abutting relationship along common margins;- a flanged smoke outlet formed integrally in the upper; domed portion of said back section above said fire-pot; a flanged apertured feed-door pouch formed integrally in the upper region of said front section; a flanged apertured ash-door pouch formed integrally in the lower region of said front section; said pouches protruding radially outward beyond an intermediate cylindrical portion of said front section; the flanges of said pouches being in a common vertical plane for coaction with an outer casing spaced from the furnace body, the construction and arrangement being such that a portion of the air being heated within the casing is adapted to circulate between and around said pouches; and integral flanges united to each other along the common margins of said body sections, whereby said sections together define an ash-pit, a fire-pot, and a domed combustion chamber.

4. A furnace body adapted for arrangement within an outer casing, said body comprising hollow front and back sections formed from sheet metal, both of said sections being approximately semi-cylindrical in cross-section, and the sections being united along a common margin to define an ash-pit, a fire-pot, and a combustion chamber in superposed relation; spaced apertured pouches formed integrally in said front section and projecting radially outward therefrom; and integral flanges surrounding the pouch apertures and defining seat frames for door members adapted to be hinged adjacent said apertures.

5. A furnace body adapted for arrangement 'within an outer casing, said body comprising hollow front and back sections formed of sheet metal, both of said sections being approximately semi-cylindrical in cross-section, and said sections being united along a common margin to define an ash-pit, a fire-pot, and a combustion chamber in superposed relation; and apertured integrally formed pouches drawn radially outwardly from said front section, said pouches being spaced apart vertically, thus defining a chamber within the outer casing between said pouches, whereby circulation of air between said pouches and the exterior of the fire-pot is effected.

6. A heater or furnace body adapted for disposition within an outer casing, comprising a plurality of oppositely arranged sections of hollow approximately semi-cylindrical cross-section and constiarranged face to face and connected to each, other, whereby said front and back body memy,

bers together define an ash-pit, a fire-pot, and a combustion chamber.

7. In a furnace structure an outer casing, and a body within said casing comprising hollow front and back sections formed of sheet metal, both of said sections being approximately semicylindrical in cross section, and said sections being united along a common margin to define an ash-pit, a fire-pot and a combustion chamber in superposed relation, said front and back sections each being stamped from a single sheet, and said front section being stamped to form pouches drawn radially outwardly from said. front section, said pouches being-spaced apart vertically, thus defining a chamber within the outer casing between said pouches, whereby circulation of air between said pouches and the exterior of the fire-pot is effected.

8 8. A furnace body adapted for arrangement within an outer casing, said body comprising hollow front and back sections formed from sheet metal, both of said sections being approximately semi-cylindrical in cross-section, said sections being united along a common margin, said front section having vertically spaced apertured pouches formed integrally therewith and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and door means hingedly carried by said pouches to close the apertures in said pouches.

9. In a furnace structure an outer casing, and a body within said casing comprising a back section formed of sheet metal to define a hollow approximately semi-cylindrical shape; a front section of hollow approximately semi-cylindrical shape joined along its margin to the margin of said back section to define the furnace body; apertured pouches integral with said front section and projecting outwardly therefrom, said pouches being spaced apart vertically, thus defining a chamber within the outer casing between said pouches, said chamber being effective to circulate air between said pouches and the outer casing; and said pouches being adapted to hingedly carry door means to close the apertures in said pouches.

10. Ina furnace structure an outer casing, and a body within said casing comprising a hollow front section formed of a single sheet metal blank, and a back section formed of a single sheet metal blank, both of said sections being approximately semi-cylindrical in cross-section and united along a common margin; and vertically spaced apertured pouches in said front section and defining a chamber within said outer casing between said pouches, whereby circulation of air between said pouches and the outer casing is effected.

11. In a furnace structure an outer casing, and a body within said casing comprising a hollow front section formed of a single sheet metal blank; and a hollow back section formed of a single sheet metal blank, both of said sections being approximately semi-cylindrical in crosssection and united along a common margin, said front section having vertically spaced apertures in its forward portion; and an inwardly extending region in said front section between said apertures defining spaced pouches surrounding the respective apertures, said inwardly extending region and said casing thereby defining an air circulating chamber between said inwardly extending region and said casing for the circulation of air between said pouches.

CLEO HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 652,297 Smead June 26, 1900 781,500 Denslow Jan. 31, 1905 924,774 Hanmer June 15, 1909 2,133,421 Brown Oct. 18, 1938 2,366,374 Whitesell Jan. 2, 1945 2,373,900 Livar Apr. 17, 1945 2,401,502 Olds June 4, 1946 

